The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) : An Irish Experience

1Higher Education Authority

An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas

HEA

The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions

(PRTLI):

An Irish Experience



HEA

Presentation

Focus of presentationBrief description of PRTLIKey Guiding Principles for recent

PRTLI Impact AssessmentThe Impact Assessment ProcessClosing Remarks



HEA

Evaluation

Ex-AnteMonitoringEx-PostEx-AnteMonitoringEx-PostMonitoring

Project level

Programme Level

Research System



HEA

Objectives



HEA

To enable a strategic and planned approach by third-level institutions to the long-term development of their research capabilities...,

so as to enhance the quality and relevance of graduate output and skills…..

to encourage co-operation between researchers both within the institutions and between institutions….



HEA

PRTLIDISTINGUISHING

FEATURES(NDP funded)

PRTLIDISTINGUISHING

FEATURES(NDP funded)

COUNTERPART FUNDING

INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY FOCUS

ALL DISCIPLINES

SCALE / RESOURCES; €605M

PROGRAMMES (€202m) INFRASTRUCTURE (€403m)

ENHANCED EDUCATION

EVALUATION



HEA

Addressing National Sectoral Needs% Total Allocation/Euros funding to date

•Biosciences/Biomedical 48% 294m(INCL. Food and Health Science, & Neuroscience)

•Platform Technologies & Materials 14% 87m(INCL. Chemical & Physical sciences)

•Environment/Marine 11% 63m •ICT/Advanced Communications 10% 60m

•Social Science/Humanities 8% 46m

•Research Resources/Libraries 9% 54m



HEA

TO DATE…..

•Funding of >60 research programmes

•17 Research Centres & 1 national library completed 33 Centres/Institutes to be established 99, 000m2 new purpose-built research space

•Human capital - approx. 450 postdocs - approx. 1000 postgrad.

students



HEA

Higher Education AuthorityAn tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas

HEA

Monitoring and Evaluation



HEA

OUTCOMES - FOR

INSTITUTIONS

STRATEGIC PLANNING

INTER-INSTITUTIONAL CO-OPERATION

LEADERSHIPCHALLENGE

RESPONSE

PROCESSES

PRIORITISATION

SELECTION

SPILL-OVER

RESEARCHTEACHING

LEARNING



HEA

OUTCOMES - NATIONALLY

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

RESEARCH CENTRES

QUANTUM

INCREASE

STRENGTHENED

NEW

HUMAN CAPITAL



HEA

Independent International PRTLIImpact Assessment

•Additional to ‘routine’ monitoring

•Initiated October 2003

•Five years post programme launch

•Approx. 4 years since initiation of flow of funds



HEA

Informing Principles for Selection of Steering Committee

Independence of Steering Committee International Experience Reputation

Composition of Steering Committee In broad terms, representation of disciplines Geographical balance Gender balance



HEA

Steering Committee Composition

Prof. E. Banda Secretary General ESFFormer Secretary General for Universities and Research, Spain

Prof. R. Vihko President of the Academy of Finland

Prof. J. Morrill British & Irish History, Cambridge UK.Arts and Humanities Council

Prof. L. Resnick Prof. Of Psychology, Director ofthe Institute for Learning, Univ.of Pittsburgh, USA.



HEA

ProcessIndependence

No engagement in evaluation by HEA Executive or Authority

Appropriate Tools Diversity of tools Facilitation of engagement with all stakeholders Horizontal and vertical probing

Real and Meaningful Indicators Programme characteristics Stage of life cycle Stakeholder diversity….requirements ‘Collectable’ and cost effective



HEA

Objectives of Assessment

Policy

Progress

Management

To address the broader policy issues including

role of PRTLI in funding of research core

capacity

To assess the progress of the programmes

funded to date

To ascertain whether the objectives of the PRTLI

scheme are being met

To Capture implications for future programmes

To Capture implications for wider society

To monitor the level of adherence to

documented plans

To assess the administration of the programme

by the HEA executive

Scope of Assessment

Commencement of the PRTLI scheme - to end December 2003

Snap shot at a point in time in a dynamic process …

The heterogeneity of programmes taken into account….

The Assessment to include many elements of final review of Cycle 1….



HEA

Teaching & Learning

Visiting Experts

Specialists In T&L

Research

Visiting Experts

Researchers

Peer review

Institutional Strategy &

Management

Members of SC

Collaboration

Policy Review

Steering Committee Independent

Secretary/

Rapporteur

Support from Indecon International Economic Consultants

Support from CIRCA Europe Ltd

(Bibliometrics CWTS/Van Raan Leiden)

Bibliometrics



HEA

Research &Teaching/LearningSix-Monthly Report Analysis

All reports for all programmes – by Research Consultants

Site Visits 19 sites/~30 programmes

3 international experts per site visit

Tours of facilites

Interviews: Centre/Programme Director; Heads of Department(s); Tenured academic staff ; post-doc researchers; post-grad students; undergraduate students



HEA

Research

Bibliometrics CWTS (Leiden, Prof.

Van Raan) Comparison of Pre-

PRTLI and ‘during’ PRTLI

Random selection of 200 researchers from HEA database by CWTS

Global/broad discipline analysis

Peer Review Output of Centres /

Programmes as above Humanities, Social

Sciences Centres / Programmes

2-7 peers : range of papers

International context



HEA

Research & Teaching/Learning Indicators

Research

Equipment, specialised facilities etc.

Scale of Research Activities /Output

Teaching & Learning (UG & PG)

Activity/processes

Content (Courses, format etc)

Collaboration

Joint Initiatives



HEA

Strategy and Policy ReviewSteering Committee:

Meetings with Presidents/Directors of HEIs (Successful and un-successful PRTLI applicants) – on site visits

Meetings with a range of government departments/public bodies

Meetings with leading industry figures and representatives of industry

Submissions from a range of organisationsStrategy/management Indicators and

benchmarking with pre-initiation of PRTLI; international comparisons.



HEA

Conclusions

………….

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The Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) : An Irish Experience

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